CRA approves Modera Boca development with 8-foot Dixie Highway sidewalk; parking reduction granted

The Community Redevelopment Agency of Boca Raton on July 14 approved an individual development approval (IDA) for the Modera Boca multifamily project at 400 South Dixie Highway, authorizing a 12‑story, 306‑unit apartment building with a seven‑level integrated parking structure and related streetscape and easement changes.

The project, filed as DDRI application CRP2401, will replace an existing office park on approximately 1.7 acres and includes streetscape improvements, a new sidewalk and landscaping on an adjacent city‑owned lot, the abandonment of two easements and transfers of office‑equivalent development between downtown subareas. The board approved a technical deviation to reduce required off‑street parking from 538 spaces to 468 spaces (a 70‑space reduction). The board also amended the IDA to require an 8‑foot sidewalk along South Dixie Highway and adopted staff conditions. The final motion passed on a 5–0 roll call vote.

Why it matters: The vote advances a large residential project in a part of downtown that city leaders say has seen relatively little redevelopment and is central to planned downtown infrastructure and streetscape investments funded by CRA tax‑increment financing. Board members and staff framed the decision around pedestrian improvements, updated downtown design guidelines and an applicant study justifying a lower parking rate for a downtown urban setting.

City planning presentation and staff rationale Jacob Germen, Planner II in the Development Services…